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First Time in a New City? Ride Public Transit

Riding around by private Palmetto Carriage may be the best way to experience Charleston, S.C.—and our contest winner will get to do just that—but in most cities, you’ll get the best feel for local life by opting for public transit.

Riding around by private Palmetto Carriage may be the best way to experience Charleston, S.C.—and our contest winner will get to do just that—but in most cities, you’ll get the best feel for local life by opting for public transit.

So many of you have shared such smart tips in our Best Travel Tip Contest that I’m thanking God I opted for a sweepstakes instead of a true contest: Everyone who submits a tip has an equal chance of winning. The “contest” part? I’m choosing my favorite entries and publishing them here every weekday through November 21. Today’s featured tip comes from world traveler Clark Kotula, who designs trips to Latin America for Geographic Expeditions.

"Whenever I arrive in a new city, big or small, I always head out first to take an aimless ride on their public transit system. Nowhere else can you get a better feel for what the pulse of life is for the locals and an insight into the development of the city/country/region based on the thought and layout of their public transit system. I like to eavesdrop on the local chat, get a feel for the energy of the local culture, see what people are reading, what their shopping bags contain. Also, studying public transit maps is a great way for you to familiarize yourself with the lay of the land and understand locals’ recommendations better in terms of where to go and what to see. The most surprising system I've experienced is the Metro in Medellin, Colombia. Fascinating!"